Edward Dyson

Here you will find the Long Poem Hello, Soldier! of poet Edward Dyson

Hello, Soldier!

Back again 'n' nothin' missin' barrin' 
arf a hand, 
Where an Abdul bit me, chokin' in the Holy 
Land. 
'Struth, they got some dirty fighters in the 
Moslem pack, 
Bull-nosed slugs their sneakin' snipers spat 
ters in yer back 
Blows a gapin' sort iv pit in 
What a helephant could sit in. 
Bounced their bullets, if yeh please, 
Like the 'oppers in a cheese, 
Off me rubber pelt in droves, 
Moppin' up the other coves. 
So here's me once more at large in 
Bay-street, Port, a bloomin' Sargin'. 
?Cri, it jumbo.? ?Have a beer.? 
?Wot-o, Anzac; you're a dear.? 

Back once more on Moley's corner, loafin' like 
a dook; 
Back on Bourke, me livin' image, not a 
slinkin' spook; 
Solid ez the day I started, medals on me 
chest, 
Switchin' with me pert melacca, swankin' 
with the best 
Where the little wimmen's flowin', 
With their veils 'n' ribbons blowin'- 
See their eyes of bloo 'n' brown 
Butterflyin' 'bout the town! 
Back at 'ome-oh, 'struth, it's good! 
Long, cold lagers from the wood, 
Ev'ry cobber jumpin' at you, 
Strangers duckin' in to bat you- 
?Good ole Jumbo, how're you?? 
?'Ello, soldier, howja do?? 

Back at Grillo's where the nigger googs his 
whitey eyes, 
Plucks his black ole greasy banjo while the 
cod-steak fries; 
Fish 'n' chips, a pint iv local, and the tidy 
girl 
Dancin' glad attendance on yeh 'zif yeh was 
an earl; 
Trailin' round the blazin' city, 
Feelin' all content 'n' pretty, 
Where the smart procession goes, 
Prinked 'n' polished to the shows, 
One among the happy drive- 
'Sworth the world to be alive! 
Dames ez smilin' ez a mother, 
Ev'ry man ver fav'rit brother: 
?'Ello, Jumbo, how is it ?? 
?Arr there, soldier! Good 'n' fit?? 

Takin' hozone at St. Kilder's good enough 
for me, 
Seein' Summer and the star-blink simmer in 
the sea; 
Cantin' up me bloomin' cady, toyin' with a 
cig., 
Blowin' out me pout a little, chattin' wide 'n' 
big 
When there's skirt around to skite to. 
Say, 'oo has a better right to? 
Done me bit 'n' done it well, 
Got the tag iv plate to tell; 
Square Gallipoli surviver, 
With a touch iv Colonel's guyver. 
?Sargin' Jumbo, good ole son!? 
?Soldier, soldier, you're the one!? 

Back again, a wounded hero, moochin' up 'n' 
down, 
Feelin' 'sthough I'd got a fond arf-Nelson on 
the town; 
Never was so gay, so 'elp me, never felt so 
kind; 
Fresh from 'ell a paradise ain't very hard to 
find. 
After filth, 'n' flies, 'n' slaughter 
Fat brown babies in the water, 
Singin' people on the sand 
Makes a boshter Happy Land! 
War what toughened hone 'n' hide 
Turned a feller soft inside! 
Great it is, the 'earty greetin's, 
Friendly digs, 'n' cheerful meetin's 
?'Ello, Jumbo, howja do?? 
?Soldier, soldier, how're you??